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I'm new here, thanks so much for the info. I've had my 3 series for 6 years and just placed my deposit today on a 2012 550i with M Sport. The early prices helped me quite a bit with negotiating my deal so thanks a ton. November can't come fast enough -- can't wait. I've gotta say, though, I've never loved a car as much as my 325. Still love driving it every day - I don't think many car owners of other brands can say the same thing. I've driven a ford and a honda in the past - while I didn't hate driving them or have any complaints about them at the time, I was never as enamored with them as I am with my current 3. I sure hope I don't regret moving into a larger 5-series.. I've heard some negatives about the steering having a disconnected feel.

On a side note, I noticed I wasn't able to have Black Sapphire as a color option with the M Sport package. Anyone have the Carbon Black? I hear it looks kinda blue but have yet to see it in person. Should I just stick with Jet Black?

I'm new here, thanks so much for the info. I've had my 3 series for 6 years and just placed my deposit today on a 2012 550i with M Sport. The early prices helped me quite a bit with negotiating my deal so thanks a ton. November can't come fast enough -- can't wait. I've gotta say, though, I've never loved a car as much as my 325. Still love driving it every day - I don't think many car owners of other brands can say the same thing. I've driven a ford and a honda in the past - while I didn't hate driving them or have any complaints about them at the time, I was never as enamored with them as I am with my current 3. I sure hope I don't regret moving into a larger 5-series.. I've heard some negatives about the steering having a disconnected feel.

On a side note, I noticed I wasn't able to have Black Sapphire as a color option with the M Sport package. Anyone have the Carbon Black? I hear it looks kinda blue but have yet to see it in person. Should I just stick with Jet Black?

- Nick

I agree, the 3 series is a fun car to drive
are you leasing?
when are you getting your car?

Hey JonDoc, I am purchasing rather than lease. Just placed the deposit this weekend so not completion date just yet but I'd imagine since they'll start production on the 2012s Sept 1 it'll arrive early November. I'm still trying to figure out if I should add the HUD or not... decisions, decisions.

Hey JonDoc, I am purchasing rather than lease. Just placed the deposit this weekend so not completion date just yet but I'd imagine since they'll start production on the 2012s Sept 1 it'll arrive early November. I'm still trying to figure out if I should add the HUD or not... decisions, decisions.

get it, most of the people here who has this like it a lot
also it comes with the extended black pannel

ARS twists special twopiece anti-roll bars to generate stronger resistance to body roll, keeping the vehicle more level and providing maximum stability and agility. DDC, on the other hand, instantly adjusts shock absorbers from the softest to the firmest settings. The result is exceptional ride comfort and fluid handling at all times – during changes in vehicle speed, load or road and driving conditions.

The brochure also listed Driving Dynamic Control that gave you user adjustable settings: COMFORT, NORMAL, SPORT and SPORT+.
Not sure the option code but there was a 2VA (Adaptive Drive) that came with ZDH. (Note, 2VA did not come with ZDH on 528i).
AFAIK the user adjustable suspension settings only came with ZDH, so wonder if this was the same thing.
Also 2TB Sport Auto Transmission included settings for COMFORT, NORMAL, SPORT (but no SPORT+)

AFAIK, for 2011
- 2TB Sport Auto modulated: throttle response, shift behavior and steering response
- 2VA Adaptive Drive: modulated chassis firmness
- If you had both, you still had on set of controls and they changed together

For 2012, the options list 4U2 - Driving Dynamics Control with ECO pro standard (as stated above)
But there is still 2VA Adaptive Drive listed as included with ARS.

So, questions for 2012 models are:
- I assume some user settings are standard now with Driving Dynamic Control +ECO, but which ones (throttle response, shift behavior)?
- Does 2TB Sport Auto add anything in the way of new setting or bring other factors under user control (steering response)?
- Is 2VA (only available with ARS) the only way you get chassis / handling adjustments?

Dynamic Damping Control.
Uneven roads, potholes, cobblestones or flawless tarmac – with Dynamic Damping Control there is now a chassis for every road and every driving style.
The perfect damping setting is what engineers are in search of on the test tracks. What they find is usually a compromise. However, with Dynamic Damping Control the BMW 5 Series Sedan provides a suitable setting for every surface without you having to intervene.

A control unit on each wheel evaluates movements four hundred times a second and adjusts the shock absorbers accordingly. The electronics system works so fast that when the front wheels encounter a pothole, information is sent to the rear wheels so that sufficient cushioning is in place. The rebound and compression damping are continually and independently set to end the need for compromise which means that the dampers adapt to the state of the road irrespective of which Dynamic Driving Control mode is selected, for exceptional ride comfort even when driving hard on bumpy surfaces.

driving dynamic control with ECO pro ( in all models)

Driving Experience Control switch will be fitted as standard on the BMW 5 Series Sedan and BMW 5 Series Touring models. This rocker switch on the centre console allows the driver to customise accelerator response characteristics, engine response, the power steering characteristics, the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) thresholds and, on automatic models, the shift characteristics of the transmission. Drivers can choose between “COMFORT”, “SPORT” or “SPORT+” modes. All the four- and six-cylinder models also feature ECO PRO mode, which supports a relaxed, extra-fuel-efficient, low-rpm driving style. At the same time, ECO PRO mode also programs electrically powered convenience functions like the heated seats and exterior mirrors and the air conditioning to operate at optimum efficiency. A special display in the instrument cluster lets the driver know by how much the driving range is being extended when using ECO PRO mode

Dynamic Damping Control.
Uneven roads, potholes, cobblestones or flawless tarmac – with Dynamic Damping Control there is now a chassis for every road and every driving style.
The perfect damping setting is what engineers are in search of on the test tracks. What they find is usually a compromise. However, with Dynamic Damping Control the BMW 5 Series Sedan provides a suitable setting for every surface without you having to intervene.

A control unit on each wheel evaluates movements four hundred times a second and adjusts the shock absorbers accordingly. The electronics system works so fast that when the front wheels encounter a pothole, information is sent to the rear wheels so that sufficient cushioning is in place. The rebound and compression damping are continually and independently set to end the need for compromise which means that the dampers adapt to the state of the road irrespective of which Dynamic Driving Control mode is selected, for exceptional ride comfort even when driving hard on bumpy surfaces.

driving dynamic control with ECO pro ( in all models)

Driving Experience Control switch will be fitted as standard on the BMW 5 Series Sedan and BMW 5 Series Touring models. This rocker switch on the centre console allows the driver to customise accelerator response characteristics, engine response, the power steering characteristics, the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) thresholds and, on automatic models, the shift characteristics of the transmission. Drivers can choose between “COMFORT”, “SPORT” or “SPORT+” modes. All the four- and six-cylinder models also feature ECO PRO mode, which supports a relaxed, extra-fuel-efficient, low-rpm driving style. At the same time, ECO PRO mode also programs electrically powered convenience functions like the heated seats and exterior mirrors and the air conditioning to operate at optimum efficiency. A special display in the instrument cluster lets the driver know by how much the driving range is being extended when using ECO PRO mode